Autopsy released for pilot in plane crash that killed Greg Biffle, others on board

The pilot who officials reportedly said was flying a plane before it crashed in North Carolina and killed the 67-year-old man, a NASCAR legend and five other people in late 2025, died as a result of an accident, autopsy results obtained by USA TODAY show.

Dennis Rollin Dutton died after the Cessna C550 jet crashed in Statesville on Dec. 18, and killed former race car driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Biffle, their 5-year-old son Ryder and Greg Biffle's daughter Emma, 14.

In addition to Dutton, his son Jack and employee and friend Craig Wadsworth also died in the late morning crash near the Statesville Regional Airport, located about 45 miles north of Charlotte.

According to a report from North Carolina's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released on April 8, Dutton's cause of death was from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.

The autopsy lists Dutton's last known address in Davidson, a town in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

What caused the plane crash that killed Greg Biffle?

The official cause of the crash remained under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on April 9.

Investigators previously said Biffle was not piloting the aircraft. According to the newly released autopsy, Dutton is presumed to have piloted the plane at the time of the crash.

Investigators previously said they had not been able to determine who piloted the aircraft, but NTSB member Michael Graham said three people on board were licensed to fly.

And according to a preliminary NTSB report, an experienced pilot was at the controls when the plane crashed, but the person sitting in the right seat wasn’t qualified to serve as the copilot.

The plane was bound for Florida but attempted to return to the Statesville Regional Airport soon after takeoff in severe weather, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.

The aircraft, which was registered to a company tied to Biffle, erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground less than a mile from the airport’s runway.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund